Fuel-cooled internal combustion engine



Sept. 22, 1942. JONES 2,296,790

FUEL-COOLED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nelson M Jones Sept. 22, 1942. N. M. JONES 2,296,790 7 FUEL-COOLED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGgliNE Filed June 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Vlsm M claims N. M. JONES FUEL-COOLED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Sept. 22, 1942.

Filed June 26, 1942 5 Sheeis-Sheet s gvwmqm [V9 25 an Janes Patented Sept. 22, 1942 FUEL- COOLED COMBUSTION ENGINE Nelson M. Jones, Sarasota,

Incorporated, Sarasota, Fla., a

Green: Fuel,

corporation of Florida Application June 26, 1942, Serial No. 448,616

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and particularly to one which will be cooled by the fuel in its passage to the carburetor or combustion means, utilizing the refrigerating effect produced as the fuel passes from the liquid to the gaseous state.

While the invention is not, limited to use in connection with airplane engines, yet an important object of the invention is to produce an engine of the present character which can be totally enclosed within a wing or other structure of an airplane and still be adequately cooled without projections extending into the outside air,

I further aim to provide a structure which is exceedingly compact, durable and eflicient and wherein a blower of super-charger type is employed in the combination to induce cooling air through the jackets of the engine cylinders and then deliver same to a mixing valve under pressure.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent. from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a plan view, partly in section to disclose details, of an airplane engine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a cylinder and cooling coil;

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, of the blower;

Figure 6 is a view of the blower in elevation.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, an internal combustion engine is generally shown at Ill and specifically itis a conventional aircraft engine of air-cooled design with my improvements added or incorporated. The cylinders H are shown as four in number although any number thereof can be used and arranged as opposed cylinders, in line, or in various combinations thereof according to the use desired of theengine. The engine illustrated includes a super-charger or blower at ventionally used on aircraft or other internal combustion engines.

Cylinders II are vertically finned for air-cooling and in accordance with my invention are I2, of the type concovered by suitable sheet metal or other shrouds Re ssues AUG 15 944 Flo... assignor to 13 and attached thereto at the heads of the cylinders and communicating with the interior of the shrouds are sheet metal or other air ducts or casings l4.

Disposed within each casing is a coil l5. Conduits or pipes I8 lead from any suitable source or sources of liquid petroleum and between such pipes l6 and coils l5, preferably within the ducts ll, are expansion valves l1. Such valves I! serve to expand and vaporize the liquid fuel drawn from the pipes l6 to produce a refrigerating effect, accordingly cooling air which passes through the ducts l4 and into the shrouds l3, and conveying the fuel as a gas through the coils IS.

A gaseous fuel is conveyed by a pipe or conduit l8 to a mixing valve IS, in communication with a mixing chamber or manifold 20, arranged in communication with the blower or super-charger l2 as shown. A conventional throttle valve 2| is located within the mixing chamber or manifold 20.

The blower or super-charger l2 functions dually to educe or draw in air through the ducts l4, thence through the shrouds l3, and thence through pipes 22 communicating with the interior of the shrouds and also with the supercharger or blower l2, at the same time drawing in the fuel through the pipes l6, coils l5 and pipes l8, through the mixing valve IS, the same admixing with the air in the manifold or mixer 20, and therefrom being educed or blown by the super-charger, through conduits 23 into the cylinders II,. to thus serve as fuel therefor, coacting with the usual piston, firing mechanism and other parts.

It will be realized that the petroleum used for the refrigerating efiect also constitutes the sole fuel used in the engine. Attention is called to the fact that while mixing valve is will effectively produce a combustible mixture of the petroleum and air, I can incorporate, if necessary, a pressure regulator for bringing the induced pressure of the gases in coils l5 and conduits l8 to any desired pressure for use in the mixing valve l9 and chamber 20.

The resulting engine will be quite light and powerful, rendering it particularly useful as an aircraft engine. The structure avoids the necessity of employing additional or extraneous devices in connection with the engine which would complicate the same and impair and render impractical use thereof as an aircraft type.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invent-ion.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a super-charger and mixing chamber in communication therewith and with the cylinders, means to confine air drawn by the super-charger into the mixing chamber, over parts of the engine to cool the same, means for the supply of hydrocarbon fuel to the mixing chamber, and means for the expansion of said fuel into gas to refrigerate the air passing, over said parts.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a super-charger and mixing chamber in communication therewith and with the cylinders, means to confine air drawn by the super-charger into the mixing chamber, over parts of the engine to cool the same, means for the supply of hydrocarbon fuel to the mixing chamber, and means for the expansion of said fuel into gas to refrigerate the air passing over said parts, said confining means comprising shroud means about the engine cylinders in communication with the super-charger.

3. In combination with an internal combus-' tion engine having a super-charger and mixing chamber in communication therewith and with the cylinders, means to confine air drawn by the super-charger into the mixing chamber, over parts of the engine to cool the same, means for the supply of hydrocarbon fuel to the mixing chamber, and means for the expansion of said fuel into gas to refrigerate the air passing over said parts, said confining means comprising shroud means about the engine cylinders in communication with the super-charger, and an air inlet duct arranged across the end of the cylinders and in communication with the shroud means, the fuel supply means includinga coil disposed within the said duct.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a super-charger and mixing chamber in communication therewith and with the cylinders, means to confine air drawn by the super-charger into the mixing chamber, over parts of the engine to cool the same, means for the supply of hydrocarbon fuel to the mixing chamber, and means for the expansion of said fuel into gas to refrigerate the air passing over said parts, said confining means comprising shroud means about the engine cylinders in communication with the super-charger, and an air inlet duct arranged across the end of the cylinders and in communication with the shroud means, the fuel supply means including a coil disposed within the said duct, and an expansion valve operable to convert liquid fuel into gas as it passes into the coil.

NELSON M. JONES. 

